Tooth-brush.



G. L. ALEXANDER.

TOOTH BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED 0014,1905.

91 3, 184, Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

W TNESSES: A [NVEN TOR %77[[/ ("/larles L. Alexander STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' I cnantns L. ALEXANDER, or CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909. g

Application filed October 4, 1905. Serial No. 281,274.

DER, a citizen of the United States, residing a is a central, vertica at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenbur and State of North Carolina, have invente( certain new and useful Improvements in Tooth-Brushes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is the provision of a tooth-brush constructed with means cleansing the teeth and purifying the mouth of the user.

With this object in view, and others appearing as the specification proceeds, the invention consists, broadly, in combination with a tooth-brush having a water-conduit either'exterior or interior of the brush-back,

the water-conduit having its exit arranged at the extreme forward end of that portlon of the brush-back occupied by the bristles, the said exit being on that side of the brushback occupied by the bristles; of a hollow connection with said water-conduit adapted to be attached to a source of liquid-supply under pressure, such as a water-spigot. And, furthermore, the invention comprehends the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts of a device characterized by my invention, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Inthe accompanying drawings: Figure .1

' longitudinal section of a toothbrush, displaying my preferred form of invention applied thereto, and Fi 2 is a side view of a tooth-brush embo ying a slightly modified construction of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, andfirst to' F' 1 thereof, the tooth-brush has an ordina ack com rising a handleortion a and a ristle-holdmg portion a, t e latter ca the usual bristles a. Interiorl 'of the bacl: is a water-conduit a, exten g longitudinally of tlifeback from the rear en toea' point near t extreme forward end thereof, the'water-conduit atsaid forward end terminating, preferably at a right-angle,

as shown at a, so as to have its ex1t on that side of the back in which the bristles a are secured, and at a point unobstructedby the br1stles, as shown clearly in the drawin s. Ada ted to be removably secured on t e han le-portion a is a hollow, flexible connection a", preferably hollow, rubber tubing, whose ot or end may carry a cone-shaped cork plug (1, adapted to be pushed into the water-spigot and temporarily held therein by frictional contact or engagement.

In the. use of the device, the tubing a is slipped over the end of the handleortion a, the cork-plug at the other end of t e tubing pushed into the water-spigot, and the handle of the latter turned more or less so as to get as reflective, stream of water will issue with great rapidity and force from the exit of the waterconduit 0, thus greatly helping and aiding the bristles in removing food matter from and between the teeth and around the gums of the mouth, and also satisfactorily flushing the mouth of the user, and whereb repeated and tiresome dipping of the bristles into water, in the cleaning of teeth, is obviated.

One of the great advantages which I claim for mylconstruction of tooth-brush is that, by reason of the exit of the water-conduit bein in a situation unobstructed by any brist es, 8. user of thebrush will receive the full force of the current ofwater issuing from the water-conduit, and thus the force of the water is not lessened. If the watei-conduit had its exit among the bristles the bristles would form more or less of an obstruction to the free flow. and the full force of the water issuing from the conduit.

Another 'greatadvanta'ge which ola for my construction of'tooth-brush 1s that, by reason of the location and articular formation of the exit-branch of t e waterconduit, whereby it is located at the extreme forward end of the bristle-holding portion a" and disposed at preferably a ijglht-angle to the mam conduit 0, no water be thrown outside the mouth in any position of manipulation of the tooth-brush in the use thereof. If locatedelsewhere, water would'be thrown outside the mouth 1n the use of the brush, which would be exceedingly ob3ect1onable.

Referring to Fig. 2, the tooth-brush is 1 shown as having an exterior water-conduit g and terminating in an exit arranged at right 1O desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

b, the exit end thereof being in the same angles to the longitudinal portion and at a position and of the same formation as shown point beyond the bristle-holding surface, and m Fig. 1 and as described in connection with a water-conveying tube extending from the 5 that figure. But this is not my preferred inlet end of said passage to a point slightly 20 form, because it is somewhat clumsy and obbeyond the exit end thereof, whereby to form structs the free use of'the brush, as is evident. a conduit and nozzle for the Water, sub- Having thus fully described the nature of stantially as described.

my invention, what I claim as new and In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 2

CHAS. L. ALEXANDER.

A tooth-brush of the character described, com rising a bristle holding portion and a han l e portion integral therewith, a passage Witnesses: extending longitudinally through the brush 7 H. L. DAVIS,

5 from the extremity of said handle-portion CHAS. L. DAVIS. 

